Five scenarios exist in week 17 for the Browns to clinch a playoff spot.
CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Browns take on the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football, the ability to clinch their third playoff appearance since 1999 will be in their own hands.
Compared to last week’s spider web of if/thens, this week’s goal is simple, as the late Al Davis would say, “Just win, baby.”
A Thursday night win punches Cleveland’s ticket to the playoffs without help from any other team, however there are scenarios in which the Browns can clinch a spot without a win.
Here are all scenarios which end in the Cleveland Browns securing a playoff spot after week 17:
- Cleveland Browns win or tie, or
- Pittsburgh Steelers loss or tie, or
- Buffalo Bills loss,
- Jacksonville Jaguars loss or tie,
- Houston Texans loss or tie + Indianapolis Colts loss or tie
On top of the scenarios above, if the Browns win on Thursday, they will clinch the top wild card seed (#5) in the AFC.
As for the AFC North, the path for the Browns to win the division and secure a potential first round bye is significantly less likely, but still technically alive.
The Browns must win their remaining games against the Jets and Bengals. The Ravens must lose their remaining games against the Dolphins and Steelers. The Dolphins must then lose their week 18 game against the Bills for the Browns to secure the #1 seed. The Browns would hold the tiebreaker against the Dolphins because of their conference record in this case.
All in all, the Browns are staring at a late December opportunity with their fate in their own hands, and a long-shot opportunity to secure a top seed with a little bit (ok, a lot) of help.
After everything it took to get to this point, the injuries, the comebacks, four quarterbacks… a reward that has eluded the Browns and it’s fans far to many times has never been closer. A chance to play for and win the ultimate reward.
